Three Teams The MLB Could Send To Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a place that you associate with sports for all the wrong reasons. As the gambling capital of America, you know Vegas as the place where people go to legally put money on sports, horse races, and casino games. Pete Rose’s dream come true. It’s a place where sporting events are watched on a big screen inside of a sports book, not in person. But that is about to change.

With the recent acquisition of the Oakland Raiders, Las Vegas is in the market for more professional sports franchises. Next on their list is an MLB team. According to the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, Las Vegas wants an MLB team and commissioner Rob Manfred is not opposed to the idea. He has previously expressed interest in Las Vegas as a potential landing place for an MLB team in the future.

I am not a fan of the relocation of teams. I miss the Montreal Expos. When the Expos got moved to Washington D.C and were renamed the Washington Nationals I didn’t understand what was happening, but I was not happy with it. This past NFL season I hated to see “LA” on the scoreboard instead of “STL”. No part of me has any connection to St. Louis or the Rams, but it bothered me nonetheless. I feel for those fans who have lost their home teams to the business side of professional sports, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

While I don’t expect it to happen immediately, I would not be surprised if a team was relocated to Las Vegas in the future. Casino magnates would be happy to fund the building of an MLB stadium in Vegas because it would bring more business to them. The stadium would effectively pay for itself. As for what team would be relocated, your guess is as good as mine. Here are my top three candidates for a future relocation to Las Vegas and five potential names for Las Vegas teams.

Tampa Bay Rays – The Rays don’t have a lot going for them. Since entering the AL East in 1998, the Rays have only won the division two times (2008, 2010). Their most recent playoff appearance was in 2013, hen they lost in the ALDS. From a business standpoint, the Rays are a nightmare. They have recorded the lowest average attendance in the MLB every year since 2011. From that point until now, they have sold an average of 17,408 tickets per game. That’s abysmal. It honestly upsets me when I see a game at the Trop and the seats are EMPTY.

Not only the bleachers but the seats directly behind home plate. It’s a sad sight to see. Finally, a piece of Major League Baseball died when Tampa Bay dropped the word “Devil” from their name in 2007. What better opportunity to reintroduce that word than moving to Sin City? The Las Vegas Devil Rays. Has a nice ring to it.

Chicago White Sox – RIP to the White Sox. For over 100 years, the Chicago Cubs were cursed and were unable to win a World Series. The White Sox could always find solace in knowing that their cross-city counterpart would not become a dominant force. That changed last season. The Cubs quickly became the best team in baseball, breaking their 108-year-old World Series drought and establishing themselves as the one true king of Chicago. The Cubs have tons of young talent and they’re not going anywhere for a while. Like the Rays, the White Sox also have trouble filling their stadium. They sell have sold an average of around 22,000 tickets per game for the past few years which has put them close to the bottom of the attendance list every season. Without their former ace Chris Sale to bring in fans, the White Sox are in a bad place.

Minnesota Twins – The Twins have been middling for the past decade. They are always the team that I forget about when thinking of teams and players because they just don’t stand out at all. Their average attendance has been around 25,000 per game in recent history, and I don’t expect that number to jump at any time soon. Having to compete with the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central is not doing them any favors, and I can’t picture them becoming the team to beat. They have some talent in outfielder Byron Buxton, infielder Brian Dozier, and seasoned veteran Joe Mauer among others, but they lack a star player and have holes in their lineup. I was drawn to the Twins back when they had Johan Santanaand Francisco Liriano. Since then, however, they’ve been very forgettable. A move to Las Vegas may be fitting for the Twins.

Five Team Names

Las Vegas Degenerates – Might not go over so well, but potentially accurate.

Las Vegas Aces – Pitchers and playing cards… Double whammy.

Las Vegas Blackjacks – Solid name and fits the gambling theme.

Las Vegas Mob – Badass team name with no double meaning *wink wink*

Las Vegas Vultures – Desert birds, alliteration, what more can you ask for?

So there you have it. My top three candidates for a relocation to Las Vegas and five (brutal) team names for a Las Vegas team. Again, I never like to see teams relocate, but if the MLB is seriously considering Vegas as a market, these are three of the teams I would look at.

Ben is a sophomore at Columbia University where he plays baseball. He loves everything about the game and is a little biased toward the Boston Red Sox, Ben has future ambitions of a career in sports media, follow him on Twitter @Ben13Porter

- SAN DIEGO, CA – APRIL 23: Billy Wagner of the Houston Astros pitches against the San Diego Padres on April 23, 2000 in San Diego,...

Johnny Lawless

We’d love to have a team in Las Vegas. Primarily so the other 6 teams would stop claiming our city as a “home” market and causing the blackout of all games being broadcast. Imagine if Washington DC blacked out all games within 600 miles from the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Pirates, and even the Detroit Tigers, Reds, and Indians. Not only would it make no sense, but it is absolutely ridiculous. Yet, that is exactly what happens when you blackout the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s from Las Vegas along with all the other California and Arizona teams.

#1baseballfan

Yes the Las Vegas Black Sox, move the White Sox to Las Vegas and rename them. How awesome would a stadium on the Strip be! Great weather, no taxes, first class facilities and a city built to have fun in. That’s it’s whole reason for being, play the all star game and world series there every year, it’s perfect!